REVIEWED BY BROOKE WALKER adventure/thriller word of mouth The Pale Horseman Bernard Cornwell In this compelling sequel to The Last Kingdom, Cor nwell further explores the tale of the ninth-century legend of King Alfred the Great of Wessex. The tale continues to be told by young Uhtred, a Northumbrian nobleman raised as a Viking and now a fearless and feared war rior – ar rogant, confident and thoroughly pagan, and therefore often at odds with the cautious, extremely pious Alfred. It is a dark time for Alfred, who, having been betrayed by some of his nobles, is reduced to hiding in swamps with his family and a few trusted supporters, Uhtred among them, while the Danes ravage Wessex, the last Saxon kingdom to stand against them. Alfred gambles all on a single throw of the dice and raises the fyrd (peasant ar my) from among those few nobles who still remain loyal to him. As they march into battle against the larger Danish forces the outcome is uncertain, but Uhtred’s heart sings with joy as he enters his natural element: the slaughterhouse of the shield wall, where only the strong survive. Once again, Cor nwell brings a brilliantly researched historical period to life. This is a tensely-wrought tale of egos, religions and cultures clashing in a well-crafted and interesting series. ★★★★ HarperCollins $29.95 Life Expectancy Dean Koontz Koontz has redeemed him- self after The Taking, his somewhat lacklustre previous novel, and returned to the mix of suspense, hor ror and quirky humour he delivered in Odd Thomas. This marvellous novel introduces us to the fabulous Tock family, and you’ll finish the book just wishing you could be drawn into their collective bosom forever – although you may want to leave it until after Jimmy’s five dark days have passed. One dark and stor my night, Rudy Tock stalks the hospital cor ridors between the intensive care unit (where his father lies in a coma, dying) and the expectant fathers’ waiting room (as his wife prepares to give birth). Suddenly Rudy’s dad sits up, announces that the baby will be named Jimmy and that he will have five dark days in his life between his twentieth and thirtieth years – then dies. Jimmy grows up and becomes a chef, but his five dark days ar rive all too soon. They are dark and terrible indeed – and they are all tied to a mysterious fact about Jimmy’s birth that he has yet to uncover. Koontz paints the Tock family with an incredible zest for life. Even the forces behind Jimmy’s dark days have a quirky appeal, although this is never allowed to detract from the deep insanity that drives them. ★★★★★ HarperCollins $19.95 Seven Ancient Wonders Matthew Reilly The Great Pyramid of Giza or iginally had a golden capstone. The capstone disappeared thou- sands of years ago, broken into seven pieces scattered across the globe. Ancient legends say the capstone has the ability to bestow such power that its owner will hold total control of the world for a thousand years – but this power can only be granted with the coming of the solar event known as the Tartarus Rotation. An alliance of European nations is in a deadly race against both the Americans and time (Tartarus occurs in six days!) to find the capstone, restore it to the pinnacle of the Great Pyramid and ensure global supremacy for their side. But eight of the ‘small’ nations, including Australia, have for med a crack team to prevent the capstone from falling into the hands of either de.Wham! Bang! Pow! Reilly writes in such an xtremely visual style. The ction and stunts are non- top; the temptation to kip-read must be constantly resisted, such is the pace of events. Reilly has obviously researched ancient Egyptian traps used to deter tomb robbers: our heroes’ paths are strewn with dozens of ferociously ingenious devices set to maim and kill them, all heightening the suspense. Top marks for another totally engaging adventure, Mr Reilly! Keep them coming. ★★★★★ Pan Macmillan $49.95 cid, enlightening eighteen and on the verge of an pendent life, the pressures of peers, ractions and temptations seem to me from everywhere for Michael Sweet – w does he relate to his father, to friends d to women? This refreshing novel plores the myriad recreational pastimes hat form a kind of modern day initiation or young men entering the increasingly undefined world of manhood. SWEET GUY ISBN 1 86465 050 8 PB RRP $19.95 For further information please contact Kym Stanton Ph: (08) 8951 1334 Fax: (08) 8952 2527 Email sales@iad.edu.au www.iad.edu.au/press Lyrical, engrossin Eve Beunetti’s son is los the waters of the mi Murray River. Caught in current that is slowly p ing her under, Eve will g at almost anything to st afloat…except her husban whose grief quietly consume him on his desiccated land A haunting novel of loss and redemption. WATERSHED ISBN 1 86465 064 8 PB RRP $22.95 DISTRIBUTION: Trade – Tower Books Specialist – JB Books (08) 8351 1688